Vaagdhara

15/08/2026

This Independence Day, VAAGDHARA celebrates the spirit of Swaraj—self-reliance, dignity, and the collective strength of tribal communities.

True freedom grows when every community has the knowledge, resources, voice, and opportunity to shape its own future. We remain committed to building sustainable livelihoods, protecting indigenous knowledge, and strengthening community-led development.

Let us honour the diversity, resilience, and wisdom of India’s communities as we work together toward a more equitable and self-reliant nation.

.joshi.vaagdhara Jayesh Joshi

07/08/2026

This is one story. But it's really not about one farmer.
Mangal Singh and Shantidevi's journey from Phalwa is the kind we're quietly seeing repeat itself across this tribal junction area — Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh. A farmer figuring out how to add value instead of just selling raw. A woman turning a vegetable kit into income of her own. Small decisions, made on their own land, in their own way.
That's what swaraj looks like when it takes shape — not as an idea, but through stories like this one. It becomes real when people connect, understand, and turn it into action.
There are many more like Mangal Singh and Shantidevi in these villages who now know what that looks like in practice. Not because it was handed to them, but because they built it.
Thanks to for telling this one well.

In tribal regions, farming has never been merely a means of livelihood it has been a way of life carried forward across generations. Yet as times have changed, some farmers have chosen to draw on their experience and fresh thinking to venture into experimentation. Mangal Singh Ganaga is one such far...

01/08/2026

The National Consultation on “Shaping Community-Led Climate Justice Pathways” held on 31 July 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, brought together agriculture scientists, researchers, development practitioners, and community members for meaningful dialogue on building climate-resilient and community-led development pathways. Through three sessions, the consultation focused on climate justice and development pathways, agroecological transformation, and community-led approaches to equitable clean-energy transitions.

Discussions highlighted traditional knowledge systems, seed self-sufficiency, food and nutrition security, decentralized renewable energy, ecosystem-based solutions, and the vital role of community leadership. A strong shared message emerged: lasting climate resilience can only be achieved when local communities are recognized as knowledge holders, and custodians of sustainable futures.

The consultation reaffirmed the need to strengthen local institutions, promote agroecological farming systems, expand equitable access to clean energy, and place community knowledge, aspirations, and leadership at the center of climate action.

Jayesh Joshi Indian Council of Agricultural Research National Institute of Solar Energy ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute

30/07/2026

VAAGDHARA warmly invites you to the Consultation on "Shaping Community-Led Climate Justice Pathways", a dialogue where community leaders, policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, civil society organizations, youth, academicians and climate experts come together to collectively reimagine pathways for climate, agroecology and energy justice. If you believe that the future of climate action must be inclusive, locally led and rooted in Indigenous wisdom, we invite you to be part of this important conversation.

Join us on 31 July 2026 at Jacaranda, Indian Habitat Center, New Delhi

Jayesh Joshi | Indian Council of Agricultural Research | National Institute of Solar Energy | ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute

National Institute of Solar Energy

21/06/2026

Excited to share the latest edition of Vaagdhara’s newsletter VAATEIN, highlighting inspiring stories, community-led solutions, and the collective efforts of our sangathans.

Read the newsletter:
https://vaagdhara.org/publications/monthly-newsletter/

19/06/2026

We are grateful to CounterCurrents for bringing forward this inspiring story from tri-junction areas.
What began as a conversation on water security and community self-governance has evolved into a powerful story of women's leadership, livelihood resilience, and local transformation.
Through collective action, community mobilisation, and the active participation of women associated with Saksham Samuh, access to water has enabled families to move beyond seasonal migration towards sustainable livelihoods. Women who once hesitated to speak in public meetings are now cultivating vegetables, earning independent incomes, participating in decision-making, and shaping the future of their communities.

https://countercurrents.org/2026/06/from-migration-to-identity-water-hard-work-and-womens-new-flight/

Vaagdhara Banswara Jayesh Joshi

In the Ghatol block of Banswara district in Rajasthan lies a village called Lamba Ghata. The journey this village has undertaken over the past few years stands as a remarkable example of transformation. Today, the women here are growing vegetables in their fields, raising livestock, going to market....

17/06/2026

Seven young people joined us this week.

They are a part of our efforts and our family of 150,000 now across the Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

We are happy to welcome the first batch of our Emerging Leaders Fellowship.

We have always believed that the communities teach more than we ever bring to it. Our hope is that these months help the fellows listen more than they evaluate, and learn from people who have been doing this far longer than any of us.

We are glad they are here. Welcome to all seven of you.

Neha Gogoi, Nish*ta Sharma, Meeteileima Khumukcham, Riya Meena, V. Vaishnavi, Esh*ta Dey, Aditya Raj Goutam Vaagdhara Banswara Jayesh Joshi .joshi.vaagdhara

12/06/2026

बाल श्रम निषेध दिवस | 12 जून 2026

हर बच्चे का अधिकार है एक सुरक्षित और खुशहाल बचपन। हर समुदाय की जिम्मेदारी है इसे सुनिश्चित करना।

बचपन सीखने, खेलने, सपने देखने और आगे बढ़ने का समय होता है — श्रम करने का नहीं। बाल श्रम बच्चों से उनके अधिकार, गरिमा, शिक्षा और अवसर छीन लेता है।

VAAGDHARA में हमारा विश्वास है कि सच्चा बचपन तभी संभव है जब समुदाय मिलकर बच्चों के अधिकारों की रक्षा करें। आइए, हम सब मिलकर ऐसा सुरक्षित, समावेशी और बाल-अनुकूल वातावरण बनाएं जहाँ हर बच्चा आगे बढ़ सके।

क्योंकि सच्चा बचपन ही स्वराज की नींव है।

#विश्व_बाल_श्रम_निषेध_दिवस #सच्चा_बचपन_से_स्वराज #बाल_अधिकार #बाल_श्रम_मुक्त_भारत Vaagdhara Banswara Jayesh Joshi .joshi.vaagdhara

08/06/2026

बीस वर्षों का इंतज़ार हुआ पूरा, बच्चों को मिला नया आंगनवाड़ी भवन

दक्षिणी राजस्थान के बाँसवाड़ा जिले की आनंदपुरी तहसील में मानगढ़ की पहाड़ियों के बीच बसे खंडोरा गाँव में बच्चों के लिए एक सुरक्षित और बेहतर आंगनवाड़ी भवन का सपना आखिरकार साकार हो गया।

वर्षों तक एक छोटे से निजी कमरे में संचालित होने वाला आंगनवाड़ी केंद्र आज बच्चों की हँसी, सीख और सपनों से गूंज रहा है। यह उपलब्धि वाग्धारा द्वारा गठित ग्राम स्वराज समूह और कृषि एवं आदिवासी स्वराज संगठन, आनंदपुरी, तथा गाँव की महिलाओं, पुरुषों और युवाओं के सामूहिक प्रयासों का परिणाम है।

यह भवन केवल ईंट और सीमेंट से बनी एक इमारत नहीं, बल्कि समुदाय की एकता, सहभागिता और संकल्प की पहचान है। यह उन सभी लोगों की मेहनत और विश्वास का प्रतीक है जिन्होंने अपने बच्चों के बेहतर भविष्य के लिए मिलकर आवाज़ उठाई और उसे हकीकत में बदला।

खंडोरा की यह कहानी हमें बताती है कि जब समुदाय संगठित होता है, तो वर्षों पुरानी चुनौतियाँ भी अवसरों में बदल जाती हैं और सकारात्मक परिवर्तन संभव हो जाता है।

https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/banswara/anandpuri/news/khandora-anganwadi-building-inauguration-children-shelter-rural-development-rajasthan-138126346.html?_branch_match_id=1592411381705248227&utm_campaign=138126346&utm_medium=sharing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXT0nMzMvM1kvKSCzOTizSS87P1Q91L3Ivzzby9DZOsq8rSk1LLSrKzEuPTyrKLy9OLbJ1zijKz00FACmRZVlAAAAA

Vaagdhara Banswara Jayesh Joshi

05/06/2026

🌿 विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस 2026 🌍

"आदिवासी पारंपरिक ज्ञान से संरक्षित होगा पर्यावरण और भविष्य"
जल, जंगल, जमीन, वायु, जैव-विविधता और प्राकृतिक संसाधन हमारे अस्तित्व की आधारशिला हैं। आदिवासी समुदाय सदियों से प्रकृति के साथ संतुलन बनाकर जीवन जीते आए हैं और पर्यावरण संरक्षण के सच्चे प्रहरी रहे हैं।

आज जब दुनिया जलवायु परिवर्तन और पर्यावरण संकटों का सामना कर रही है, तब आदिवासी समाज का पारंपरिक ज्ञान और प्रकृति के प्रति सम्मान हमें एक सतत एवं सुरक्षित भविष्य की राह दिखाता है।

🌱 विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर हमारा संकल्प

✅ हर परिवार एक पौधा लगाए और उसकी देखभाल करें
✅ जल संरक्षण को जीवन का हिस्सा बनाए
✅ जैव-विविधता और स्थानीय प्रजातियों का संरक्षण करें
✅ ऊर्जा और प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का जिम्मेदारी से उपयोग करें
✅ स्वच्छता और हरियाली को बढ़ावा दे

"प्रकृति के साथ संतुलन ही सुरक्षित और समृद्ध भविष्य का आधार है।"

#विश्वपर्यावरणदिवस2026 Vaagdhara Banswara .joshi.vaagdhara Jayesh Joshi